France coach crash: Two British school kids critically injured and 13 hurt in motorway accident

One student has suffered "life threatening injuries" and another is in a "serious condition" after a coach carrying a group of 14 to 17 year olds from Bournside School in Cheltenham crashed near the Swiss border

One student is fighting for their life in hospital and 13 people are injured after a bus carrying a group of British teenagers crashed onto its side in France.

Two teenagers were airlifted to hospital in a critical condition following the horrifying motorway smash - with one pupil suffering life threatening injuries.

The group from Bournside School were on their way to Italy for a camping trip when their bus slid 250 metres along the hard shoulder, before careering into a ditch.

Dramatic photos from Franche-Comté 3 showed the bus's back window smashed in and the vehicle lying on its right hand side following the incident near Lons-le-Saunier, just miles from the Swiss border.

There were 42 pupils aged between 14 to 17, six members of staff and two drivers on board the coach, which came from Express Motors.

One of the drivers is believed to be in a serious condition, according to Acorn Adventure which organised the trip.

In a statement, the school said: "We were deeply saddened to hear of a serious incident involving the coach taking our students to Dora Baltea earlier today.

"Our hearts go out to all those involved.

"There were 42 students, 6 staff and two drivers on board at the time.

"Two of the students were airlifted to hospital, one in a ‘life-threatening’ condition and another in a ‘serious’ condition.

"The school have met with the parents of these two students, who are now on their way to France to be with their children.

"A further ten students and one member of staff received ‘minor’ injuries. The parents of these ten children have been contacted.

Three have been seriously injured in the horrifying motorway smash (Image: @paulette59553)

"The remaining students and staff are with Police.

"The school are currently in the process of liaising with the Global Response Centre (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) and the trip organiser, with regard to how and when students will be returning to the UK.

"When we have any further information, it will be shared with parents concerned."

In an updated statement released on Sunday the school said: "We can confirm that 40 students and staff will return to the UK later today.

"They will travel by Eurostar and will hopefully be back at Bournside during the early hours of Monday morning.

Our thoughts continue to be with the two students and their close family, who are seriously injured in hospital in France and will not be returning to the UK for now. I am pleased to be able to confirm that the parents of both students are now with their children and are being supported by the school and other relevant agencies."

Two helicopters were dispatched to the site near the Swiss border following the crash on the A39 at 11am this morning (Image: Infos Françaises)

Ian Jones, from Express Motors, told Mirror Online the firm was desperately trying to contact the drivers on board but there was no answer. It is believed one of the drivers has suffered

He said: “I feel sick and shocked. Nothing like this has happened before.”

Mr Jones added that the drivers on board were taking turns at the wheel and both were “experienced”.

Express Motors also confirmed that police had been in touch.

A spokeswoman from trip organisers Acorn Adventure said: "At present it is known that two young people and the coach driver have been seriously injured and 10 young people have sustained minor injuries.

Cheltenham Bournside School said there were 42 students, 6 staff and two drivers on board

"Acorn Adventure has a support team stationed locally who are on route to provide assistance to the group and additional specialist staff will also be joining them as soon as possible."

Rob Miller, MD of Acorn Adventure said, “We were deeply saddened to hear of this accident earlier today and our hearts go out to all those involved.

"Of course we are liaising with the coach operator who we have worked with for many years without incident to understand the details leading up to the accident, but right now our priority is to support those who have been injured and to work with the school to provide support to the families.

The bus slid 250 metres before careering into a ditch according to local reports (Image: @paulette59553)

"I would like to thank the local emergency services for their swift response.”

"The thoughts of the whole Acorn team are with those directly affected, their families and the school and we are fully committed to providing them with the very best support."

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire City Council said Bournside School will release a statement shortly.

Two helicopters were dispatched to the site near the Swiss border following the crash on the A39 at 11am this morning.

The bus was travelling near Lons-le-Saunier when it crashed (Image: Infos Françaises)

North Wales Police tweeted: "The coach crash which occurred in the France area earlier today did not have children from the North Wales area on board.

"Only the Firm/company itself is based in North Wales, our thoughts are with the families of those involved."

The Foreign Office confirmed it was in contact with authorities in France.

An FCO spokesman said: "We are providing support to a group of British nationals following a coach crash in France. We are in contact with the relevant local authorities.”

Lons-le-Saunier, where the bus carrying 48 people crashed this morning (Image: Infos Françaises)

Members of the group have been taken to the nearby town of Courlaoux.

The highway is cut off at kilometer points PK 89 from Poligny as fire crews and police assess the scene.

According to French police, apart from the bus, no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

North Wales Police confirmed the children were not from Wales after initial reports stated the group were Welsh

They tweeted: "The Coach Crash which occurred in the France area earlier today did not have children from the North Wales area on board.

"Only the firm/company itself is based in North Wales, our thoughts are with the families of those involved."

A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) told Wales Online the coach set off from the UK yesterday for a week’s camping trip in Italy.